Judith Sheindlin, better known as Judge Judy, gave her husband, with whom she had lived for 45 years, the perfect gift. They became a couple after she poked her finger in his face and said: “And who is this?” They found out they were destined to be together only after their divorce.
Judith Sheindlin, known widely by her TV moniker, Judge Judy, didn’t know what to buy her husband, Jerry Sheindlin. After spending a long time thinking about it, she settled on buying him a motorcycle. So, for his 85th birthday, Judy and Jerry went to the Harley Davidson store and picked out a tricycle.
In a photo, the couple of 45 years can be seen sitting on the huge black motorcycle, with Jerry in the front and Judy holding onto him from behind. The TV judge shared that although he now has the tricycle, he’s not allowed to drive long distances on it, and he mainly uses it to get to the gym and back.
After years together, Judy and her husband still find it crucial to make time for each other and their children. For her 80th birthday, Judy, her husband, Jerry, and 23 close relatives took a trip to Musha Cay, where they spent some quality family time together and relaxed in the sun. The TV star shared:
“One could not have a better birthday than surrounded by the people you love who love you in an idyllic and unspoiled place.”
The judge and her Jerry share five children in total, with Jerry bringing three kids into the mix — Gregory Everett Sheindlin, Jonathan Sheindlin, and Nicole Sheindlin. Judy has two kids, Jamie Gail Hartwright and Adam Scott Levy. Between the five children, there a massive 13 grandchildren have been born.
But the two have had troubles of their own in the past.
Despite Judy’s stern demeanor in her shows, she’s almost exactly the opposite when it comes to her family. She especially loves spoiling her grandchildren. She admitted that she and her husband often don’t even realize they’re treating the kids, although the parents notice, and they try their best to put a stop to it.
After the final season of her hit show, “Judge Judy,” the courtroom icon refused to retire. She launched a new show, titled “Judy Justice,” on Amazon Freevee with her granddaughter by her side. The TV personality said she’s “not tired,” and she has nothing else to keep her busy, so she will keep making shows.
Judy and Jerry’s Marriage Almost Failed
Before Judy became Judy Sheindlin, she was married to another man. She shared her two kids with her first husband, Ronald Levy, with whom she tied the knot in 1964. Unfortunately, the union didn’t work out, since Ronald only expected Judy to be a permanent stay-at-home mom, and she had bigger aspirations.
Her first husband merely saw her job as something to pass the time while she wasn’t looking after the kids, and she quickly grew resentful towards him and unhappy in the relationship. Eventually, the two parted ways in 1976, and the TV judge was free to pursue whatever she wanted.
After her divorce, she moved to New York City, where she built herself a career as a judge. Although she found success in the big city, she also found Jerry. The two met in a bar after Jerry finished a murder trial. Never one to beat around the bush, Judy was quite direct when they met. Jerry explained:
“She was a prosecutor. There was a reporter from the New York Post there at the bar, and I was speaking to him about the case. Judy came walking in and put her finger in my face and said, ‘And who is this?’ I said, ‘Lady, get your finger out of my face.’ We’ve been together ever since.”
But the two have had troubles of their own in the past. When they met, Jerry was still married to his previous wife and was hesitant to call it off entirely. Jerry suggested they should just live together without getting married, and in response, Judy said, in that case, he should tell her father. Obviously, he refused.
So, not taking no for an answer, Judy pulled out a calendar and set an ultimatum. Jerry could pick a date, but by that time, he should have divorced his previous wife, otherwise, she wouldn’t stick around. It worked, and the two finally married in 1977.
However, in 1990, after being together for 13 years, another big hurdle crossed their path. Judy’s father had just died, leaving the judge in shambles. She had been close to her dad, and she just needed someone to take care of her after his death. Unfortunately, Jerry couldn’t do that. He shared:
“What she said was, ‘Unless you change, we can’t stay together.’ I said, ‘Tell me what you want me to do. You can’t just say ‘take care of me. What you have to do is tell me – use your words and tell me what you want me to do to take care of you.’ She said, ‘Just take care of me.’ And I said, ‘I don’t know how to do that.’”
After saying she would divorce him if he couldn’t take care of her, he dared her to do it, and he received the papers the next day. After a year of separation, the two realized they weren’t happy apart, and they decided to try again. They went to the clerk’s office and made it official.
The two have been happily wedded since they remarried. After years of working hard, they enjoy spending their time with their extensive family. Judy and her husband also still support each other in everything they do, and Jerry commented that “behind every great woman there is a man.”
